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water zones. Based on work in the Sacramento Valley from the early 1900s, it is <br /> estimated that under "natural' conditions, ground water contains nitrate at <br /> concentrations no more then about 13.5 mg/L-NO3 (3 mg/L-N). Nitrate may be <br /> increasing in areas with concentrations of 24.75 mg/L-NO3 (5.5 mg/L-N) or more (Hull, <br /> 1984). The US EPA has set the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for nitrate as NO3 <br /> at 45 mg/L (10 mg/L-N). <br /> Although nitrate is a naturally-occurring compound necessary for plant growth, it can <br /> cause health problems when present at high levels in drinking water. The most <br /> common health effect of nitrates in water is methemoglobinemia, or blue baby <br /> syndrome, which results in reduced oxygen supply to vital tissues. Pregnant women <br /> and certain others can also develop methemoglobinemia. Symptoms include a bluish <br /> color of the skin, as well as headache, dizziness, weakness, and difficulty breathing. <br /> Ingestion of high levels of nitrates over time can also lead to gastric problems. <br /> DBCP was not detected in the sample. DBCP is a nematocide and soil fumigant for <br /> vegetables and grapes. It is known to cause male reproductive effects and is classified <br /> as a probable human carcinogen. Most domestic use of DBCP was discontinued in <br /> 1977 through 1979. The US EPA set the MCL at 0.2 parts per billion (ppb, equivalent to <br /> pg/L) because it believes that given present technology and resources, this is the lowest <br /> level to which water systems can reasonably be required to remove this contaminant <br /> should it occur in drinking water. The Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) for <br /> DBCP is zero. <br /> In addition, Mr. Tavares provided analytical results from previous water sampling <br /> conducted at the domestic well on July 1, 2013. Nitrate was detected at 110 ppm <br /> (mg/L-NO3) on this date. The discrepancy in results may result from seasonal <br /> fluctuation of ground water flow. Both results are well above the MCL. <br /> The laboratory analytical results are attached as Appendix 5 of this report. <br /> Soil Profile and Geologic Information <br /> The Site is mapped on the Geologic Map of California, San Jose sheet (Rogers, 1966). <br /> It is depicted within a map unit of recent Great Valley fan deposits (Plate 7). <br /> The surface and near surface soils located at the Site are reported by the USDA Web <br /> Soil Survey to be composed of Delhi loamy sand, Honcut sandy loam, and Tinnin loamy <br /> coarse sand (Plate 8) (USDA, 2014). The table below presents some selected <br /> properties of these soils: <br /> LOGE 1328 Page 5 <br />